4th Call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM). Extended DL: October 27th 2017

Applications for Missions occurring between 1st November 2017 till 1st April 2018

All STSM activities must occur in their entirety until April 1st

COST strives to support European scientists in their networking activities by Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) that will allow scientists to learn from an institution in another COST country. STSMs involve visiting a partner institution for a period of up to 3 months to improve closer cooperation and exchange, to develop capacity building and joint research, publications, and preparation of future projects. The following detailed information is withdrawn from COST H2020 VADEMECUM (pages 28-29).

Who can apply?

STSM applicants are PhD or post-doctoral researchers, or employed by or officially affiliated to an institution or legal entity (public or private, as Home Institution);

COST Action IS1311 INTERFASOL subscrives COST strategy towards increased support of Early Career Investigators (ECI) (COST 295/09). Therefore, the participation of ECIs in STSM is particularly encouraged. An applicant can be considered as being an ECI when the time that has elapsed between the award date of the applicant’s PhD and the date of the applicant’s first involvement in the COST Action IS1311 INTERFASOL does not exceed 8 years. PhD students are also eligible to partake in STSMs.

The table below (see category A) details the possible STSM scenarios available to the respective Researcher. The Host institution (category B) concerns the institution/organisation that will host the successful applicant.

A) Researcher in a Home Institution

B) To Perform a STSM in a Host Institution

Located in an institution in a Participating COST Country or Cooperating State

In another Participating COST Country or Cooperating State

In an approved NNC institution*

In an approved IPC institution*

In an approvedSpecific organisation*

Located in an approvedNNCinstitution*

In a Participating COST Country or Cooperating State

Located in an approved European RTD Organisation*

In a Participating COST Country or Cooperating State

* – For the time being, there are no such cases in COST Action IS1311 INTERFASOL

Amount of grants

STSM can have a duration of between 5 days and 90 days (and up to 180 days if the applicant is an ECI).

The financial support on offer is a contribution to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM and may not necessarily cover all of the associated expenses. Financial support is limited to cover travel and subsistence expenses and is paid as a grant.

During an STSM neither the MC, nor the COST Office nor the Grant Holder may be considered as an employer. Grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, social security and pension matters.

The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:

For accommodation and meal expenses, a maximum amount of EUR 160 per day can be considered;

A grantee can be afforded of a grant with an average of 1500€, up to a maximum of EUR 2500;

STSM activities must occur in their entirety within the dates specified in this call.

How to apply?

The applicant is responsible for choosing and contact the Host institution and for organizing the application process. He/she has to complete the online application form (https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm ) and send it to the MC Chairs and to the STSM coordinator, attaching the following documents:

CV;

Publication list;

Work plan;

Written agreement letter from the host institution;

Support letter from the home institution;

Motivation letter, highlighting the importance of the mission for this COST Action, and for his/her own training and career.

The selection of applicants is based on the scientific scope of the STSM application which must clearly compliment the overall objectives of the Action.

When to apply?

The current call is open from October 13th till October 27th 2017 (10 consecutive days). Feedback will be given to you by STSM Coordinator until 31th of October 2017. STSMs are eligible within the period: 1st November 2017 – 1st April 2017.

The Interfasol network continues to publish series of short interviews with key stakeholders, scholars and policy makers about important aspects of intergenerational family solidarity.

We would like to present a statement on Intergenerational Family Solidarity on National, European and International Level by Ms. Rosette Farrugia-Bonello, Research and Programme Manager at the International Institute of Ageing (INIA), United Nations, Valletta, Malta. www.inia.org.mt

We wish to acknowledge George (Gino) Pavia, member of the Interfasol, and Maria Aurora Fenech (University of Malta), who have been instrumental in contacting the key stakeholders in Malta.

COST Action IS1311 Intergenerational Family Solidarity across Europe

Societies are urgently required to develop mechanisms, programmes and policies that will foster and nurture solidarity between the young, middle and older generations. Although there is growing activism in this field, our understanding of the benefits gained by different generations from the same family in distinct settings, such as in education, work, health and human development, is disaggregated and understudied and requires an interdisciplinary knowledge interchange and coordination between European countries.

This Action’s goal is to synchronize, integrate and improve European research in the field of intergenerational family solidarity, its benefits in key life domains and the ways in which it can be strengthened across generations. The knowledge exchange will improve the interdisciplinary communication between researchers from different countries to advance research in the field, and will promote exchange between research, practice and policies. The Action launches a series of activities that includes an workgroups, scientific meetings, training visits and publications.